All I need is the air that I breathe …

posted at 11:33 am on February 19, 2009 by Ed Morrissey

Sources within the Obama administration tell its favorite leak recipient that they will have the EPA start to regulate carbon dioxide emissions in the next few months. The decision will hit the energy and transportation sectors at a time when both will be needed for an economic recovery. Get ready for even more nationalization:

The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to act for the first time to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that scientists blame for the warming of the planet, according to top Obama administration officials.

The decision, which most likely would play out in stages over a period of months, would have a profound impact on transportation, manufacturing costs and how utilities generate power. It could accelerate the progress of energy and climate change legislation in Congress and form a basis for the United States’ negotiating position at United Nations climate talks set for December in Copenhagen.

The environmental agency is under order from the Supreme Court to make a determination whether carbon dioxide is a pollutant that endangers public health and welfare, an order that the Bush administration essentially ignored despite near-unanimous belief among agency experts that research points inexorably to such a finding.

Well, you have to love how the New York Times has decided to become the spin masters of the Obama administration. Take a look at the second paragraph of the article, in which John Broder breathlessly informs us that regulating carbon dioxide could “accelerate the progress of energy and climate change legislation in Congress and form a basis for the United States’ negotiating position at United Nations climate talks”. It could do all that, but what Broder doesn’t mention is that it will also rapidly increase energy costs, making it costlier to produce goods and services inside the US while foreign competitors gain an advantage.

How long does it take for Broder to mention the fact that increased regulation and imposition of controls will “significantly increase costs”? Paragraph 15, of 26. He only mentions it in reference to expected opposition from Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), whom Broder helpfully casts as a “champion” of the auto industry. Funny, though, that the New York Times didn’t bother much with describing people as “champions” of this industry when covering the auto-industry bailouts, which will now apparently go to waste, thanks to this new regulatory push that will make both the manufacturing and products of the industry obsolete.

In fact, in the entire 26-paragraph article, only two paragraphs speak at all about the opposition to such an approach. The rest almost fawningly describe the effort in glowing, even heroic tones. It’s quite the piece of propaganda, and I’m certain the Obama administration will bless the NYT with even more scoops like this in the future. It’s far below Broder’s usual standard.

Interestingly, the Most Transparent and Accountable Administration in World History will not ask Congress to pass these new regulations. Getting the People’s Branch involved apparently is too time-consuming and tiresome. Instead, the EPA will just start issuing regulations, and will ask us to trust them to be reasonable. No, I’m not kidding:

She also said that while Mr. Obama supported Congressional action on climate change, he was also committed to using the regulatory authority of the executive branch to reduce emissions that contribute to global warming.

Mr. LaBolt said the White House would not interfere with the agency’s decision-making process.

If the environmental agency determines that carbon dioxide is a dangerous pollutant to be regulated under the Clean Air Act, it would set off one of the most extensive regulatory rule makings in history. Ms. Jackson knows that she would be stepping into a minefield of Congressional and industry opposition and said that she was trying to devise a program that allayed these worries.

Remember all those on the Left that complained about George Bush’s “imperial” approach to the Presidency? Do you suppose they’ll complain about this? Neither do I.

“The environmental agency is under order from the Supreme Court to make a determination whether carbon dioxide is a pollutant that endangers public health and welfare, an order that the Bush administration essentially ignored despite near-unanimous belief among agency experts that research points inexorably to such a finding.”

I love how the left claims to be all about science, when they mix up two of the most basic tenets of science. A theory is something that remains to be proven and a law is something that is proven, i.e., the law of gravity.

Liberals don’t come out and say it, but they basically believe in the Law of Man Made Global Warming.

near-unanimous belief among agency experts that research points inexorably to such a finding.

Maybe those “agency experts” should step outside of the EPA building, and/or stop getting all their “scientific” information from sources like the NY Times and Al Gore, and start paying attention to the hundreds of real scientists who have pointed out how seriously flawed the current AGW theory is.

The speed that the federal government seems bent toward creating a populist backlash is inexplicable. Are they this tin-eared? It’s only been a month. Is Obama an agent provocateur with an anti-Democratic agenda? Why are they bent on self-destruction?

My husband is an environmental lawyer and worked for EPA several years ago and works for the state of New Jersey now. The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Acts are so vague that EPA can write almost any regulation under them. The Bush Administration didn’t try going to Congress on any of this stuff either. It issued regulations (or refused to in the case of Co2) and then the environmental groups sued it. The court cases on these laws are astounding. Reams and reams of expert testimony in both directions. Amazing interpretations of the statutes depending on the outcome the litigants want.

There is going to be a big effort to reauthorize the Clean Water Act though. There is a Supreme Court decision on wetlands that the enviros want to overturn and that requires legislation.

Well that cinches it for me. Guess the ‘cow’ tax is a comin’.
I knew it.
Need to sell of now I guess. All my farting & burping cows I guess are just too much for old mother Earth to take.
I think Soylent Green should be the new ‘burger’.
CO2 exhaling Liberals first!

The speed that the federal government seems bent toward creating a populist backlash is inexplicable. Are they this tin-eared? It’s only been a month.

ignorantapathy on February 19, 2009 at 11:41 AM

Here’s the scary part. It hasn’t been a month. Tomorrow it’ll have been one month since the inauguration. We have 47 more of these to go(assuming the electorate isn’t insane enough to give him a 2nd term).

Maybe those “agency experts” should step outside of the EPA building, and/or stop getting all their “scientific” information from sources like the NY Times and Al Gore, and start paying attention to the hundreds of real scientists who have pointed out how seriously flawed the current AGW theory is.

I’m sorry, but there’s thousands of scientists that dissent from the Man Made Global Warming point of view :)

When Clinton changed the Title V air quality regulations it caused manufacturing companies millions of dollars in procedures, testing and compliance. Some actually had to go out of business due to the high cost of compliance. Small trucking companies also went out of business because they had to replace the older models, not sure in this day and time that any small trucking company or large can afford to replace 18 wheelers, especially when they can’t get the money to do so. If they gear down the regulations it will be a final nail in the coffin for a majority of our manufacturing companies, coal mining, chemical plants, etc.

…despite near-unanimous belief among agency experts that research points inexorably to such a finding.

So what? There is ALWAYS near-unanimous belief among the tree hugging zealots at the EPA, irregardless of whether their beliefs are grounded in any kind of reality whatsoever. The agency is just one giant green echo chamber.

***Warning: The Internet Warrior is feeling a long rant is just around the corner. Might want to keep small children and pets away from your monitors. I’m about to blow up! And those of you that have seen my rants know what I mean. This is just way too much for any real Conservative, hell ANY American to take in just 4 weeks… You have been warned…

If a “consensus of scientists” came up with the theory (and genetic modeling software) that stated “human life begins at conception” do you think Obama and his tools would act on it with this same fervor and devotion and blind loyalty and unquestioning obeisance?

If the EPA air nuts are let loose it will be a real bad thing for this country. I am certain this current administration is intent on destroying manufacturing in this country. They want us all to be dependent on Government.

After seeing the Chicago CNBC outburst over the Obama Mortgage Plan and this EPA possible action I can only hope we are prepared for revolution. Rising prices combined with higher taxes, government bailouts and intervention will light up this country with an outrage we have not seen since those of our founding fathers. The N.Y. Times be damned!

Carbon dioxide is used by plants during photosynthesis to make sugars which may either be consumed again in respiration or used as the raw material to produce polysaccharides such as starch and cellulose, proteins and the wide variety of other organic compounds required for plant growth and development. It is produced during respiration by plants, and by all animals, fungi and microorganisms that depends on living and decaying plants for food, either directly or indirectly

Since you brought it up, and on a slightly related note, I think I’d rather have my money, hell – my country – stolen at gunpoint instead of stolen through legislation, executive orders and court rulings.

All in the name of saving the children or saving the planet.

I think I’d rather have my money stolen if they told me it was to defend against an invasion of sub-terranean lizard people.

Following the destruction of most American’s livlihoods and successfully raping the Federal Treasury, President Hussein al-Chicago and The MOST CORRUPT, INCOMPETENT ADMINISTRATION Evah!® will now concentrate upon destroying the Transportation Industry (i.e., ‘Trucking/Cartage’) and the entire Energy Sector.

Coal fired power generation will be outlawed and existing plants will be immediately shut down. Diesel powered trucks and farm equipment will be outlawed and taken off the roads. Americans will be forced to dig ‘Obama Gardens’ to eke out enough food to survive (arugula lettuce will be reserved for the Ruling/Political Class).

I’d like to see everyone on Wall Street and in the Chicago exchange walk out and go on strike. Just shut down the damn markets for a couple of days. Somehow the capitalists have got to make a statement here to stop the insanity.

When Clinton changed the Title V air quality regulations it caused manufacturing companies millions of dollars in procedures, testing and compliance. Some actually had to go out of business due to the high cost of compliance. Small trucking companies also went out of business because they had to replace the older models, not sure in this day and time that any small trucking company or large can afford to replace 18 wheelers, especially when they can’t get the money to do so. If they gear down the regulations it will be a final nail in the coffin for a majority of our manufacturing companies, coal mining, chemical plants, etc.

This is not encouraging at all.

I know many truckers. Many are quitting. They are selling rigs a huge loss.
Many are going overseas to work in the oil industry where some countries still actually drill for oil!!! Obama is going to step on too many toes and get punched in the face. We know Obama hates capitalism. The American public wants to work and everywhere we look government is stifling & smothering business’s – Government needs to back-off or find itself on the wrong side of millions of angry Americans that are ready for a fight to the death.

If we could find some way to harness the flatulence emitting from the Congress and the White House how much more oil, coal, and natural gas could we stockpile. Even Ted, as he prepares to pass over the River Styx, would not have to stare at windmills outside the Martha’s Vineyard compound.

Keep an eye on Minnesota. When the Lizard People begin their conquest, it will start here.

You might be right. I had always thought the invasion would start in Florida or Louisiana.

It’s obvious the excess CO2 is causing sub-terranean warming as well, allowing the lizard people to slowly evolve a higher level of tolerance for more temperate climates, and able to expand their underground empire.

Because of this, I only exhale in great moderation and in areas surrounded by plant-life. When it is not possible, I exhale into a plastic bag and release the deadly toxic gasses into the forest, later.

haha! Thanks for that. I was getting a little upset about this subject and your post really highlights the absurdity of it all.

Because of this, I only exhale in great moderation and in areas surrounded by plant-life. When it is not possible, I exhale into a plastic bag and release the deadly toxic gasses into the forest, later.